The Psychosocial and Mental Health of People Who Are Affected by Conflict, Catastrophes, Terrorism, Adversity and Displacement

Abstract

This chapter is in four parts. It introduces salient topics that we hope are sufficient for people who are starting out in responding to the healthcare needs of people who are affected by conflict and catastrophes. We do not claim that this chapter is a comprehensive account. Chiefly, it provides an overview of the psychosocial needs and the psychosocial care and of mental healthcare that people require who are affected, directly or indirectly, by catastrophes, disasters, major incidents, extreme events, terrorism, CBRNe events and adversity. It applies also to people who are refugees or internally displaced persons (IDPs) or asylum seekers. There is a plethora of terms used and, arguably, “natural disasters, technological catastrophes, acts of terrorism result in [broadly] similar [psychosocial] consequences” [p. 200]. Therefore, in this chapter, we refer to all of these situations as major incidents.